The Pope County Quorum Court's Budget Committee considered pay raises for the county’s employees at its meeting Tuesday night, a topic that won’t be voted on for more than half a year but one the court will have plenty of time to consider.

The proposed raises, which would be a $1,200 pay raise in the annual salary of each full-time employee of Pope County, mark an effort to raise the pay of workers to stay current with the consumer price index (CPI), essentially a quantifier measuring the cost of living for the average American.

If the court decides to vote on the raises, it won’t be able to do so until November, but Justice of the Peace Doug Skelton brought the matter to the court’s attention at Tuesday’s meeting to allow for adequate time to consider the issue.

“Beginning the talks now gives us time to discuss it fully,” he said.

“This is something that needs to be looked at,” Justice of the Peace Phillip Haney said. “The revenue stream hasn’t been looked at in a long time. And the extra revenue stream could help other services the city provides. There’s other issues besides just raises.”

I detect the distinct smell of someone being groomed for public office. Or is the new justice Skeltons' introduction of two new ordinances which pander to county employees just increasing his 'warm and fuzzy' factor for the fun of it?

It would seem that an agenda is coming out of the county judges office and the 'yes' men on the quorum court are just doing their jobs. My question would have been to justice haney. Mr Haney, Why would you be concerned with 'other' services the CITY provides, when your office exclusively deals with county matters?

You see friends, it would sound as if mr haney doesn't know what he is talking about, and might be voting in the manner which he is instructed by his 'overseers'.

Just in case you guys didn't know, one can be totally incompetent and serve on the quorum court. There is no litmus test for JP. All one must do is take the oath and join the good ol; boys party.

It is my opinion that mr skelton, and mr haney, and the other members are going to vote to raise your taxes at a time when the dollar is in danger of collapse, along with the local economy.

Maybe some day we will have those who are capable of leading us out of economic morass, and not those who would take a ride on the taxpayer.